DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER : IAN JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHY

DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER IAN JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHY SANTORINI MYKONOS TUSCANY AMALFI RAVELLO SICILY

Wednesday 12 December 2007

Rainy wedding for the bride with a golden shoe





As we know this past weekends weather was awful gale force winds, heavy rain, and a very dark December  winter wedding. Well it was the 8 though the 8th.  Victoria and Lee had done a ton of planning and it really showed  great details everywhere, for their wedding at Layer Marney Tower in Colchester. But one thing you cant plan against is for rain. In the black white shots you see Lee fighting the elements and the moment the umbrella gave up aswell.

Tuesday 27 November 2007

He Googled it, I blogged it

After having photographed weddings for 17 years now, a first happened at my latest wedding. Toby had forgotten the paper with the reading for in the church. So with modern technology, outside this very old church Toby ' googled ' on his Nokia Leonard Cohen Lyrics 'Dance Me to The End Of Love'. John you can see is reading the lyrics on top of his hymn book . and I of course now 'blogged it'

 

Monday 26 November 2007

Best of the coffee table book covers

One of the best parts now of being a photographer is working on the Coffee table book after.
This wedding was a Destination wedding in Sweden, an American Finnish wedding with a big 'ice hockey' theme. The cover is a montage of three shots from the day

I loved this out of focus shot with this Italian theme a Tuscan wall
and their wedding ring ring placed in a antique

A pure a simple French Classic Cecile and Henrik both artists.
I wanted  to show a countryside feel to this photo.

new textures and filters


Recently I have been creating new filters and textures for my photos here are a few

Thursday 15 November 2007

Celebrity Wedding Guest

I have been working on some photographs of Ted and Saras wedding in Los Angeles, the venue was the Disney Concert Hall downtown LA. There was a fantastic moment when we were doing the bride portraits, a very special celebrity wedding guest arrived


 
It was big bird ...

Monday 12 November 2007

a vintage Harpers Bazaar

Over the weekend I was just looking through my collection of vintage fashion magazines, when I came across a then modern wedding from Sept 1949 .The photos are classic, the wedding was a Miss Patsy Pulitzer and David Frost. An interesting note about a boy giving the bride a wedding present .. it was a fishing reel.

The dress it says is Organdie and the skirt caught up with lilies of the valley.




Over the weekend I was just looking through my collection of vintage fashion magazines, when I came across a then modern wedding from Sept 1949 .The photos are classic, the wedding was a Miss Patsy Pulitzer and David Frost. An interesting note about a boy giving the bride a wedding present .. it was a fishing reel.

The dress it says is Organdie and the skirt caught up with lilies of the valley.

Tuesday 23 October 2007

Wildfire wedding Los Angeles


Over the weekend I was at Ted and Sara's wedding in downtown Los Angeles. The venue was the Disney Concert Hall an incredible place to visit. The fires had started on Sunday so there was no problems there. The drive home back along the 101 in the evening to Malibu canyon was a spectaular one against the backdrop of fire and smoke. The photos were safe right next to the door that evening just in case of an evacuation.

Tuesday 9 October 2007

a blast from the past Wedding in Ravello


This time last year I took one of my favourite photos of all time.It came with a little luck and a bit of skill. Photographing in Ravello on Amalfi Coast at the famous Hotel Caruso. The hotel had an amazing infinity pool, luck would have it the clouds were were desending very fast, so i asked the couple to stand behind the infinity pool, i deliberatly underexposed the shot shooting at 1 eight of a second with flash ...

Friday 5 October 2007

An travel article ... by Ken Coey

Whilst photographing a wedding i was interviewed about how i work ... here is the story to be published.

Ian Johnson is one of Europe’s leading Photographers of Real Life Weddings. But how does he find real life in a supposedly dying institution?

He talks to Kenneth Coey ….

A gust of mistral wind rips across Nice’s Promenade Anglais and Ian Johnson dives into attack with his camera snapping wildly. Moments later, he selects an image from his digital viewer and with a broad smile announces, ‘Now that’s a real life shot.’
And he is right. The bent back palm tree is partially obscuring the sign on the hotel roof, while at the front door the colourfully dressed doorman is grappling with his top hat and the shopping bags of a guest. In just a few seconds the famous Negresco Hotel has become the backdrop to explain that Ian is here in the Cote D´Azur to shoot a wedding. ‘A real life wedding,’ he adds.
‘All weddings are real, course they are’ he adds in an Essex accent that belies the fact that he has lived the last 15 years in Los Angeles and Stockholm. ‘Difference is if the photos show that. Do they jump out at you and capture that feeling, those emotions and special moments? Weddings are a living event not just a ceremony and I record that.’
The move from traditional group photos on Registery Office steps to a two day shooting trip for a ‘typical’ Swedish wedding at a vineyard in the south of France is as immense as Ian’s journey from Royal Navy submariner to celebrity photographer in Los Angeles. ‘You learn patience when you are under water for 30 days and to go for what you want in the fresh air,’ he says.

And he did just that on one of his first assignments which was some roof top shots of Bob Hoskins to publicise the Peter Pan film getting its US release. ‘Getting to see the real person can be a problem in these shoots. But when I eventually pulled out a £2 ‘throw-away’ camera my mum had bought me in Clacton Market, Bob just fell about laughing and that got me my first magazine cover’ he says with a glint in his eyes.

A wedding a few years later to Swedish designer Lena and life took a new turn with a move to Stockholm where he pioneered the concept locally of ‘Real Life Weddings’. While Stockholm remains his base, he also maintains extensive contacts in the US and UK dealing with private and magazine assignment weddings.

‘Yeah, spend a lot of time travelling to exotic places’ he says with a wide grin, ‘Been to Carlisle, Aberdeen, Barbados, and of course Stockholm in the last few weeks. Location doesn’t really matter to me just so long as I get the best out of it. It’s the people after all, how they relate to each other and the environment that makes the difference.’

I get the story of the weather disaster at a recent shoot in Tuscany, where they were engulfed by an ‘end of the world is nigh’ storm making all outdoor shots impossible: except, that is, for the moment the groom saw his wedding car filling up speedily with hailstones through an open window. ‘Priceless that one, he thought the window was smashed and would have to walk’ Ian adds ‘but that’s why I always like to play safe with an extra day for background shots.’

Other stories from around the globe flow, but a ‘jet set life comment’ brings a scornful reply. ‘You wanna try travelling with this mate,’ and brandishing his large and expensive looking camera in his equally large hands he continues, ‘and I got two of them. No way I’m letting these into the baggage hold.’

His wide shoulders and smile sag under the weight of the multitude of check in and baggage restrictions he encounters weekly as he jet-hops around. ‘Every week it changes and no two carriers or staff are the same so you just need to go with the flow and stay one step ahead. I even got a trench coat made with deep pockets so I could carry them on.’

But even before his laugh ends Ian is back snapping away at street signs and cafés for some background but adds as a finale to our meeting, ‘Yeah, travelling is just like real life photography, be aware of your surroundings and adapt to the best possible advantage.’
A few days later, an email from Ian Johnson arrives to let me know that the ‘typical’ Swedish wedding in the Provencal vineyard had gone well, except that the chauffeur hadn’t checked out the route to the church and the bride was late. ‘Lots of photos of a nervous looking groom ... but that’s real life mate!’

Thursday 20 September 2007

latest news from the wedding world

the big question is how big will be ' 08/08/08 Weddings ' How Big Will They Be?
I have one on the 9th so im free 1

Monday 17 September 2007

Wedding at the Milestone Hotel Kensington Chelsea

No guessing as to where I was on Saturday, what a great location to have a wedding, with fantastic helping staff, I was at Milestone Hotel in Kensington, on High St Ken. This really was a destination wedding.. well not for me, but for the couple..the couple P and M were from New York.

Whilst on the balcony overlooking Kensington Palace minutes after the couple were married I asked P just to talk to M...how surprised I was when they told me what he had whispered in her ear ... he mentioned Arsenal had beaten Tottenham 3 - 1

Monday 10 September 2007

Envy Post Production

The last two days little off the wedding scene but after photographing dave and natasha wedding two years ago at Newick Park in Haywards Heath. I have regularly helped them with photography for their very cool website...

Envy has become the the envy of the industry becoming the best post production house in London. Their latest project is BBC 2 's 'The Restuarant'

Friday 7 September 2007

ian johnson photography reallife weddings in 'Weddings'

In the next issue of 'Weddings' I have a fantastic real life to show from Scotland. Drumtochty Castle near Aberdeen is a fairytale wedding come true, it was for Christopher and Jennifer .The church that is only 100 metres away is simply the most picturesque. Ewan that runs the place is a perfect guy to have around...and a great photographers assistant.

Wedding trends...destination weddings with a touch of green

Following last weeks cool wedding trends destination weddings are getting bigger and bigger but with a touch of green
destinationweddings.com said ' While the demand from brides for more destination wedding services and dress expertise is a consistent theme, a new trend is emerging with brides looking to have a "green" destination wedding'

Monday 3 September 2007

now thats what i call a ring finger

I photographed a Gothic wedding at Berns in Stockholm ...they pushed the 'Ian Johnson photography secret' to the limit.


(c) Ian Johnson Photo

Thursday 30 August 2007

wedding trends...theKnot.com says

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY WEDDINGS – Today more than ever, couples are looking for a way to give back when planning their wedding by incorporating eco-friendly elements. It’s never been easier to plan a green wedding without sacrificing style, with tools such as a Green Wedding Guide on Green Weddings Channel on TheKnot.com. WHAT’S NOT: THE BRIDEZILLA – Nightmare brides are definitely “out.”

Wednesday 29 August 2007

a blast from the past..

I just recieved another enquiry for a medieval wedding, where everyone except the photographer me and video cameraman were dressed up.
Double click on the image, this is a great one.

The Bride couldnt choose between the two dresses so she used both, the groom thought the codpiece was a bit over the top, for the record I wore Hugo Boss

Monday 27 August 2007

...a little 60's photo

..weddings from the 60's ...I love the look of them colors. Sara and Magnus were married in sweden Saturday, a wedding on the edge of the swedish archipelego, the guests took a boat to Fågelbro ,Stockholm.

IAN JOHNSON PHOTO wedding photographer in Stockholm sweden

Sunday 26 August 2007

a feel of a Tuscany wedding....

..a feel of a Tuscany wedding in Stockholm, i love friday weddings they are so relaxed.. this fridays wedding Frederic's and hanna's I found a wall that had a feel of a Italian Tuscany wedding.


(c) IAN JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHY wedding photographers in stockholm sweden

Thursday 23 August 2007

..what a party..


double click on the image to see it bigger ian johnson photo

Sunday 19 August 2007

..gifts from heaven..

Joe Buissink a Hollywood celebrity wedding photographer once said to me ' ian we go to the same weddings, other photographers go to, we get the shots ..do you think they are gifts from heaven ?' I joked with Joe and said that was a little deep. .... well Joe after photographing micki and elins wedding you're right they are' gifts from heaven'



Saturday 18 August 2007

wedding comic...

When I did my first edit I didnt see this shot, whilst putting Max and Sara's wedding in Lund coffee table book together, this photo just struck me.

(c) Ian Johnson Photo

Friday 17 August 2007

IAN JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHY WEDDING TIP ...wedding flowers

I met a bride having a wedding in Sweden 2008, getting married in Stockholm, she asked about flowers and colors..a great piont, reds look fantastic in color .. but in black and white your wedding album will look like you are carrying around a black ball, neutral colors always work.

Tuesday 14 August 2007

Perfect French Destination Wedding.....at Elviks

(c) IAN JOHNSON PHOTO

Wow what a fantastic day for this French Swedish wedding. I always think the best moment of the day is when the couple leave the church showered in flowers, petals, confetti and with this destination wedding LAVENDER ... so not only did this look good it smelt good.

Is this a French wedding custom everyone must have a camera ?

Everyone knows I love a little detail ... thank you Cecile Henrik for providing them ... and they tasted good aswell !

Saturday 11 August 2007

IAN JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHY WEDDING TIP ... always pack a sewing kit

Ian Johnson 's wedding tip this week, comes from last weeks wedding ( check out Jon's back side if you have the courage), is always have a needle thread and sewing kit with you when you get ready ... Im sure mum can help out as we see in Jennys wedding on May 1st

Tuesday 7 August 2007

Whats happening here then ?

Ian Johnson Photo
Whats happening here then ?


Jon bent over to quickly pick up his ringing phone ... there was a rip .. well it wasnt a fart ... his trousers went !!!



luckily Ylva saw the funnier side of this .. on wedding days couples show all kinds of emotions but this was the first time a groom has shown his arse.

Harley Davidson Biker Wedding

Ian Johnson Photography


a biker wedding I have always wanted to do one ...you could easily see who the photographer was ... he was the one in the Hugo Boss suit. Thanks for a great wedding Henke and Petra.

Friday 3 August 2007

IAN JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHY WEDDING TIP ....dont tie the wedding rings to tight

this wedding tip comes from last weeks wedding make sure the rings are not tied to tight to the wedding ring cushion ... its embarrising to be asked by the priest to come back and untie them

Monday 30 July 2007

Italian wedding in Stockholm

I had super fun at Hillevi and Salvatori' s Italian wedding in Stockholm this weekend, great couple, great guests, great weather, great colors and a great tie .... Italian Salvatori looked everywhere for this tie to find it in Harrrods to learn it was from a tie maker in his home town of Naples, Italy